Colorado Avalanche vs Los Angeles Kings Picks and Predictions for Sunday April 26 2026
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The Colorado Avalanche visit the Los Angeles Kings at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, April 26, 2026, with puck drop scheduled for 4:30 PM. Coverage is available on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. Colorado enters Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round with a 3-0 series lead and a chance to close out the matchup, while Los Angeles looks to extend the series on home ice. The Avalanche are listed at -170 on the moneyline with the puck line at -1.5 for +154, while the Kings are +142 on the moneyline and +1.5 at -185. The total is set at 5.5 goals, with the over at -118 and the under at -102. Get in on all the action with our Free NHL picks.
Previous Game Recap
Colorado recently won over Los Angeles 4-2 in Game 3, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The Avalanche opened the scoring with a 1-0 first-period edge before both teams scored once in the second period. Los Angeles stayed within range heading into the third, but Colorado added two more goals in the final frame while the Kings managed one, allowing the Avalanche to finish off the road win and move within one victory of advancing.
For Colorado, Artturi Lehkonen was one of the top performers with a goal and an assist, finishing with three shots and a plus-two rating. Gabriel Landeskog added a goal on two shots, while Brock Nelson also scored and helped give Colorado important finishing touch up front. Cale Makar scored from the blue line and put four shots on goal while also blocking six shots, and Nicolas Roy and Devon Toews each contributed an assist. Scott Wedgewood handled the work in net, stopping 24 of 26 shots and posting a .923 save percentage in the win.
Los Angeles had its offense come from Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore, who each scored in the loss. Alex Laferriere helped create chances with two assists and six shots on goal, while Quinton Byfield and Artemi Panarin each added an assist. Anton Forsberg faced 22 shots and made 19 saves, finishing with a .864 save percentage. The Kings had moments of pressure, but they could not keep Colorado from pulling away late.
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Colorado Carries a Closing Opportunity
Colorado enters this matchup at 55-16-11 overall with a strong 29-7-5 record away from home. The Avalanche have been excellent over their recent stretch, recently winning over Los Angeles 4-2 in Game 3, recently winning over Los Angeles 2-1 in overtime in Game 2, and recently winning over Los Angeles 2-1 in Game 1. Before the series began, Colorado also recently won over Seattle 2-0 and recently won over Calgary 3-1, giving them five straight wins in the provided results.
The Avalanche average 3.63 goals per game while allowing just 2.40 goals against per game. They generate 33.7 shots per game and allow 26.1 shots against, giving them a strong profile in both creation and prevention. On special teams, Colorado has 45 power-play goals with a 17.1 percent conversion rate, while allowing 36 power-play goals against with an 84.6 percent penalty-kill rate. The Avalanche have also recorded two shorthanded goals.
The biggest strength for Colorado is the clear balance between scoring and defense. Their goals-for average is significantly higher than their goals-against average, and their shots-for number is also well above the shots they allow. That combination has shown up throughout the series, where Colorado has won each of the first three games while keeping Los Angeles from breaking through for a high-scoring result.
Los Angeles Searches for a Series Lifeline
Los Angeles comes into Game 4 at 35-27-20 overall with a 15-17-9 record at home. The Kings have had a difficult recent run, recently lost to Colorado 4-2 in Game 3, recently lost to Colorado 2-1 in overtime in Game 2, and recently lost to Colorado 2-1 in Game 1. Before the playoff series, Los Angeles also recently lost to Calgary 3-1 and recently lost to Vancouver 4-3 in overtime.
The Kings average 2.68 goals per game while allowing 2.90 goals against per game. They put 28.0 shots on goal per game and allow 27.2 shots against. On special teams, Los Angeles has 38 power-play goals with a 17.0 percent conversion rate, while allowing 61 power-play goals against with a 74.6 percent penalty-kill rate. They have also produced seven shorthanded goals.
One key weakness for Los Angeles is the gap between its scoring production and its goals allowed. The Kings are scoring 2.68 goals per game while giving up 2.90, and that becomes a difficult combination against a Colorado team that has been producing more offense while allowing fewer goals. Their penalty-kill percentage also stands out as an area that could create pressure in another tight playoff matchup.
Colorado Avalanche vs Los Angeles Kings Picks and Prediction
Side Pick (Moneyline / Spread / Puck Line)
Colorado is the stronger side based on the provided data and the current series position. The Avalanche lead the series 3-0, have recently won over Los Angeles three straight times, and enter with a 29-7-5 road record. Their team stats also show advantages in goals per game, goals allowed per game, shots per game, shots allowed per game, and penalty-kill percentage. Los Angeles is at home, but the Kings have recently lost five straight games in the provided results, including all three games in this series. The side pick is Colorado on the moneyline.
Total Pick (Over/Under)
The total is set at 5.5 goals, and the under is the preferred lean based on the scoring results and team data provided. The first two games of this series finished 2-1, while Game 3 landed at 4-2. Colorado allows just 2.40 goals per game, and Los Angeles averages 2.68 goals per game, which points toward another controlled playoff matchup. While Colorado has strong offensive numbers, the series results have mostly stayed tight, and Los Angeles has not shown enough scoring in the provided games to push this comfortably higher. The lean is toward the under 5.5 goals.
Final Score Prediction: Colorado Avalanche 3 – Los Angeles Kings 2
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